Hemp Industry Under Threat and Comer Seeks Support
Rep. James Comer: A Critical Ally in the Fight for Hemp
We stand firmly with the Comer letter, which calls for these destructive provisions to be removed. Hemp has strong bipartisan support in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties recognizing its value to farmers, small businesses, and consumers.
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At a recent congressional hearing on cannabis policy, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) made one thing clear: the FDA’s refusal to regulate CBD is hurting farmers, entrepreneurs, and consumers. Without federal clarity, the hemp industry has been forced to operate in uncertainty, leaving responsible businesses at risk while opening the door for bad actors.
Before coming to Congress, Comer served as Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture, where he was a strong voice for farmers and rural communities. He also played a key role on the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee, helping secure hemp’s return to American fields. Now, as Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Comer has the platform and authority to hold agencies like the FDA accountable.
“The FDA’s refusal to act has stalled progress for a crop that’s already proven its value,” Comer said during the hearing. “Farmers and small businesses need certainty. The hemp economy has enormous potential, but only if Washington does its job.”
But Comer’s leadership is needed now more than ever. The House agriculture appropriations bill, as amended by Rep. Andy Harris, would re-criminalize all “quantifiable” amounts of THC in hemp. If passed, this change would not only put companies like ours out of business—it would wipe out the entire hemp industry, conservatively valued at $28.5 billion by Whitney Economics.
We’ve already defeated a similar effort in the Senate led by Mitch McConnell, with support from allies on both sides of the aisle. Hemp is not a partisan issue. Lawmakers across party lines agree that farmers, small businesses, and consumers deserve a fair chance. That’s why AHAA and our partners are urging members of Congress—Republicans and Democrats alike—to sign on to a pro-hemp letter calling for the Harris amendment to be removed before any final bill passes. The deadline to join this letter is close of business Thursday, September 25th.
For AHAA and our coalition, Comer’s leadership is exactly the kind of support this industry needs. His agricultural background, legislative experience, and current leadership role make him one of the strongest allies hemp has in Congress. He doesn’t just understand hemp on paper - he’s lived the realities of farming, fought for rural communities, and delivered results when the industry needed it most.
As the debate over hemp heats up in Washington, Comer’s steady voice is cutting through the noise. He knows the FDA has stalled for too long, and he’s willing to call out federal agencies and fight back against amendments designed to criminalize hemp. That courage is how hemp won legalization in 2018—and it’s how we’ll protect it in 2025.
With bipartisan champions like Rep. Comer leading the way, there’s every reason to be optimistic about the future of hemp. But optimism must be paired with action.
Support Comer's Leadership
We stand with the Comer letter and urge Congress to remove these destructive provisions before they devastate America’s hemp farmers, businesses, and consumers.